Hi,
Here are updated pictures of this model.

<u>Facts on the real bridge.</u>
The real bridge is not fully visible from any roadways because of trees (although when I was a boy, it was pretty much all visible), and it is only able to be accessed from private property, or on the railway line itself. The bridge is about 80km west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, on the main line to Toowoomba and further west. The Lockyer Creek, which it crosses, is a major tributary of the Brisbane River. This area was first settled by Europeans in the 1830's, and the railway built in 1867. (Interestingly, the area was widely settled by German immigrants in the late 19th century, and they have formed a very valuable intergrated, cultural and industrious place in Australian society).
The bridge was built during 1910/11, and opened for traffic in November 1911, replacing an earlier erection of iron and timber. It is a reinforced concrete bridge with a concrete deck and bulustrading. It was built only a decade after the first reinforced concrete bridge of any size was erected in Chatellerault in France. It features three double semi-elliptical arches, supporting a deck for a single railway track. Supplementary arches with cross bracing, complete the span between the abutments and the arches. The bridge was built when William Pagan was chief engineer of the Queensland Railways in Australia, and it still carries 3,000 tonne coal trains (10 a day).

While the purpose of any bridge is to cross a divide, most structures make a bold statement in the process. In this case the statement is clothed with symmetry and grace.





<u>Model facts:</u>
The scale is 1:96 (close to HO), this is an English architectural scale of 1/8 inch to the foot.
The model is basically cut by jigsaw from two sheets of 10mm medium density fibreboard, as this allowed for some carving and shaping. The cross bracing was done using a fretsaw, and the end abutments done in balsa wood and plastic. The balustrading (railings) were cast in a rubber mold, 44 castings in all. The model has numerous coats of paint, sanded each coat, all finishing coats were done with Humbrol brand paints. The scenic work uses two part casting epoxy for water, and various commercially available material for trees, grass etc. Some of the model trees are casuarinas (she oak) which are common in this part of the world. The models were made from a plant called foxtail sedge, found on low sandy banksia country.
The model is set in a module designed by my club, the Union Pacific Model Railroad Club in Brisbane Australia. This module will become part of a display layout.

I intend to use this module with my own Märklin layout, so I have no qualms about photographing the model with Märklin trains.

The model also suits TT model track (12mm) for the narrow gauge Queensland Railways (42 inch or 1045mm) at 1:87, for which there is an enthusiastic group of modellers in Australia.

A view from creek level to the north, toward Toowoomba



Another view to the north



A full length view, looking south toward Helidon and Brisbane



I hope you like it
regards
Kimball

Thanks Don,
I got the sand and gravel which is under the epoxy, from the area near around the real bridge.
If my memory serves me correctly, I got plenty of inspiration from your detailed modelling shown here in this forum.
I will attempt to get close ups of the water at some time.
regards
Kimball